Summary and disclaimer in prologue.
Chapter 1
'Coffee does not work fast enough.' Lex reflected grimly as he watched his father from across the wide glass table. He generally enjoyed his early morning breakfasts in the garden room, but of course that was because they were usually solitary occasions. Spreading butter on an english muffin that he had no intention of eating, he considered a variety of attractive variations on the theme of patricide.
"Son, your main problem is that you have all the drive and ambition to succeed, but not enough intelligence to apply them properly." Daddy dearest was warming up to his favorite theme nicely, using his knife as a prop to illustrate his point. Lex groaned inwardly, and said the next sentence in perfect harmony with his father.
"You don't have the Luthor business acumen."
"Cute." Lionel glowered at his son, then leaned forward with a new spark of interest. "Have you been drinking?"
"I had a glass of scotch last night." He'd been hoping that his father wouldn't notice the monumental hangover he was nursing on a workday.
"Hmm." Clearly unconvinced, the older man poured himself another cup of coffee.
"Dad, pleasant as it always is to chat with you over a meal," Lex kept his tone light, reflecting that there was no real point in pissing the man off too much, "was there any particular reason you invaded my breakfast? Or is it just a social call?" Lionel regarded him from behind the tinted glasses he still wore despite his 'miracle' recovery, his expression unreadable.
"Son, I think its time that I had a look over the plant. After all, now that its back under Luthor Corp control, its an important asset. Of mine." The distinction between the last two words and the rest of the statement was so fine that few would have noticed it. Unfortunately for his mood, Lex was one of the few. Reminding himself that this was the person in whose presence he had to be at his most careful, he leant back in the ironwork chair and sipped his coffee.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I have meetings scheduled all day in Metropolis, and I have to spend the night there. If I'd had some warning...." It was true that he had been planning a trip to the city, but for quite a different purpose. Plans that he was not willing to change for his megalomaniac of a father.
"Well, that is unfortunate." A slight curling of the lip was all that gave Lionel's displeasure away. "You know, I had a fortuitous opening in my schedule and I took the opportunity. A multi-billion dollar corporation doesn't run itself, you know."
"I am aware of that." Or at least he would be, as soon as he wrestled control of the company away from his dear papa.
"Are you? I wonder." Only the lightest trace of sarcasm, as if they were in any way having a pleasant morning conversation. They were both masters of this game. "Anyway, perhaps Gabe could show me around?" A trap, without a doubt. Gabe wouldn't be able to exert any control over what Lionel saw, and his father roaming the factory freely was not something Lex was prepared to allow.
"I'd much rather take you myself. Is there any way you could stay longer?" It almost sounded like he wanted him there. *Almost*. "I could fly back early tomorrow."
"That sounds... acceptable. I'd like to look over the old mansion anyway, see if it needs any repairs. I was thinking of selling it, actually."
"Really." A flicker of the eyes betrayed anger behind Lex's mask, and Lionel smiled broadly.
"Oh, just a thought, just a thought." Lionel was clearly gleeful at the sheer number of unpleasant possibilities he could now hold over his son's head.
"I'm going to get ready now." Lex stood with barely concealed impatience and threw the cream linen napkin across his plate. "Is there anything else you need before I go?"
"No... Oh, Lex, is your new personal assistant going with you to Metropolis?" Lex paused, halfway to the door, confusion written on his features. He stood where he was, turning only his head slightly to look over his shoulder.
"What?"
"Your new personal assistant. Chloe Saunders, wasn't it?" The blood froze in Lex's veins for a moment, as he got a clear mental image of Chloe, standing in her underwear on his desk, answering his phone. 'No, pater, Chloe *Sullivan* is the reason I'm going to Metropolis. Because its been a week and I can't think about anything except what it felt like to fuck her. So I'm going to Metropolis to make it with anything with a pulse so I can forget about her. Because she's a fucking high school student and she tried to rip me off.' Of course, Lex said none of this, only:
"Oh. I fired her." The lie was all too easy.
"Really? She sounded charming."
"She was. Just not very efficient." Striding from the room, Lex left his father to what was left of breakfast.
"Oh well. Easy come, easy go." Lionel settled back into his chair, entirely happy with his unexpected visit thus far. Not only had he discomfited his son as regarded his job and his house, he'd also discovered something very interesting in the line of Lex's shoulders, and his distinct lack of name correction, when he'd mentioned the Sullivan girl. Very interesting indeed. Lionel smiled like the cat that had got the cream, and sipped his coffee.
Chapter 1
'Coffee does not work fast enough.' Lex reflected grimly as he watched his father from across the wide glass table. He generally enjoyed his early morning breakfasts in the garden room, but of course that was because they were usually solitary occasions. Spreading butter on an english muffin that he had no intention of eating, he considered a variety of attractive variations on the theme of patricide.
"Son, your main problem is that you have all the drive and ambition to succeed, but not enough intelligence to apply them properly." Daddy dearest was warming up to his favorite theme nicely, using his knife as a prop to illustrate his point. Lex groaned inwardly, and said the next sentence in perfect harmony with his father.
"You don't have the Luthor business acumen."
"Cute." Lionel glowered at his son, then leaned forward with a new spark of interest. "Have you been drinking?"
"I had a glass of scotch last night." He'd been hoping that his father wouldn't notice the monumental hangover he was nursing on a workday.
"Hmm." Clearly unconvinced, the older man poured himself another cup of coffee.
"Dad, pleasant as it always is to chat with you over a meal," Lex kept his tone light, reflecting that there was no real point in pissing the man off too much, "was there any particular reason you invaded my breakfast? Or is it just a social call?" Lionel regarded him from behind the tinted glasses he still wore despite his 'miracle' recovery, his expression unreadable.
"Son, I think its time that I had a look over the plant. After all, now that its back under Luthor Corp control, its an important asset. Of mine." The distinction between the last two words and the rest of the statement was so fine that few would have noticed it. Unfortunately for his mood, Lex was one of the few. Reminding himself that this was the person in whose presence he had to be at his most careful, he leant back in the ironwork chair and sipped his coffee.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I have meetings scheduled all day in Metropolis, and I have to spend the night there. If I'd had some warning...." It was true that he had been planning a trip to the city, but for quite a different purpose. Plans that he was not willing to change for his megalomaniac of a father.
"Well, that is unfortunate." A slight curling of the lip was all that gave Lionel's displeasure away. "You know, I had a fortuitous opening in my schedule and I took the opportunity. A multi-billion dollar corporation doesn't run itself, you know."
"I am aware of that." Or at least he would be, as soon as he wrestled control of the company away from his dear papa.
"Are you? I wonder." Only the lightest trace of sarcasm, as if they were in any way having a pleasant morning conversation. They were both masters of this game. "Anyway, perhaps Gabe could show me around?" A trap, without a doubt. Gabe wouldn't be able to exert any control over what Lionel saw, and his father roaming the factory freely was not something Lex was prepared to allow.
"I'd much rather take you myself. Is there any way you could stay longer?" It almost sounded like he wanted him there. *Almost*. "I could fly back early tomorrow."
"That sounds... acceptable. I'd like to look over the old mansion anyway, see if it needs any repairs. I was thinking of selling it, actually."
"Really." A flicker of the eyes betrayed anger behind Lex's mask, and Lionel smiled broadly.
"Oh, just a thought, just a thought." Lionel was clearly gleeful at the sheer number of unpleasant possibilities he could now hold over his son's head.
"I'm going to get ready now." Lex stood with barely concealed impatience and threw the cream linen napkin across his plate. "Is there anything else you need before I go?"
"No... Oh, Lex, is your new personal assistant going with you to Metropolis?" Lex paused, halfway to the door, confusion written on his features. He stood where he was, turning only his head slightly to look over his shoulder.
"What?"
"Your new personal assistant. Chloe Saunders, wasn't it?" The blood froze in Lex's veins for a moment, as he got a clear mental image of Chloe, standing in her underwear on his desk, answering his phone. 'No, pater, Chloe *Sullivan* is the reason I'm going to Metropolis. Because its been a week and I can't think about anything except what it felt like to fuck her. So I'm going to Metropolis to make it with anything with a pulse so I can forget about her. Because she's a fucking high school student and she tried to rip me off.' Of course, Lex said none of this, only:
"Oh. I fired her." The lie was all too easy.
"Really? She sounded charming."
"She was. Just not very efficient." Striding from the room, Lex left his father to what was left of breakfast.
"Oh well. Easy come, easy go." Lionel settled back into his chair, entirely happy with his unexpected visit thus far. Not only had he discomfited his son as regarded his job and his house, he'd also discovered something very interesting in the line of Lex's shoulders, and his distinct lack of name correction, when he'd mentioned the Sullivan girl. Very interesting indeed. Lionel smiled like the cat that had got the cream, and sipped his coffee.